Another tragic story from Chiapas...

April 6, 2019
Little Estefani  was born Feb. 7, 2019 to Sara and Elias.  Sara is Pablo’s and Hebron’s long time accountant, and semi family member.

Today,  2 months later, little Estefani has died.
A tragedy for the family, for the medical personnel involved (including me), and for the healthcare system, or lack of it in the towns and cities of Chiapas.
She was beautiful, and healthy.  She developed a mild cough, saw a pediatrician (rare in this area), recommended by Doc Gustavo.  She was given an appropriate medication, but app. didn’t improve,  They returned in the middle of the night to try to find the doctor, but he was not available, and they were sent to the gov’t hospital here in town.  She was given a  medication for cough , that was not appropriate, and sent away. She already was in respiratory distress.
They came to our clinic where we attended her the best we could.  She was given oxygen, and improved somewhat, and the decision was made to take her to San Cristobal where sophisticated emergency care, advanced life support, and appropriate treatment could be given .
She stopped breathing on the road.
They turned around and returned to our clinic 1 hour later.  We did CPR, to no avail.
I can’t tell you the pain and sheer terror of watching her die, and watching the absolute agony of Elias and Sara, and the devastation of Dr. Gustavo. He brought this child into the world.
We not only grieve, but as medical professionals, agonize over the situation.  What more could we have done?  What did we miss?  Damn this backward place!

Please pray for all of us.  I can’t get the picture of Elias sobbing over his dead baby, and Sara later, not wanting to let her go.  There is a little white casket.  She was buried Saturday in Matzam, the mountain village where her grandparents live.  Her visitation was in a hut with the cook fire in the center, and ears of corn drying on beams above. We were served tortillas, eggs, and chicken soup.  She was buried in the field outside that grows corn, beans, and squash, and among the wild white calla lillies.  It was Tzeltal earthy.  Sebastian sang and presided at the sweet , sad little service.  

Oddly, or not so oddly...I chose to go to the clinic that day to visit, as I had not been there in almost 2 weeks. 

And oddly, or not so oddly, the baby was dedicated to the Lord at our Nueva Vida mission last Sunday.

Sadly

Carolyn

PHOTOS. A THRIVING LITTLE MISSION

NUEVA VIDA, A LITTLE MISSION CHURCH

It is so encouraging to watch this little church blossom!  It started as a vision, mostly with Jan, and her friend, Antonia, also a pastor’s wife. And sure enough, where 2 or 3 are gathered, there will I be.  And God has seen the little church thru thick and thin, thru doubts and challenges.  

Today it thrives!  There are 30 or 40 official members, 80 or 90who attend regularly, and 40 or so, young people who attend for a year or two, while living inOcosingo while attending the University.  They are busting out of the seams of the little, noisy storefront that they occupy now.  The land has been purchased up the hill, near the clinic, and the money has been raised peso by peso, and by donations from generous donors.  

We recently celebrated 12 years of “Young People” with a conference, music, games, food, a stirring talk by a vibrant young pastor.  2 other churches were invited, so there were 70 in all.   So sweet to see 15-25 year olds laughing, praying, enjoying each other in God’s name.  Dina and Sebastian are the Leaders Extraordinaire!  

And a celebration of the youngest ones: 10 years of Sunday School, with music, readings, choruses of sweet little voices!  We’ve come a long way baby!  

Praise the Lord!